-- Freudenberg Group is investing around Rs.130 crores in Mysore, making it the Company's largest investment in Asia-Pacific region. Freudenberg companies Chem-Trend and Klüber Lubrication India are building one of the Group's most modern facilities in Mysore. In the medium term it will become a technical center of excellence for customers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim, serving them with customized solutions. Specialty lubricants, release agents and maintenance products being manufactured in Mysore under the brands of Klüber Lubrication, Chem-Trend and OKS have various applications in different industries such as infrastructure, automotive, energy and food industry. "This investment reiterates the strategic importance of the Indian market for the globally operating Freudenberg Group," said Dr. Jörg Matthias Großmann, Freudenberg Group Regional Representative for India and Chief Financial Officer for Freudenberg Chemical Specialities.
For years, Mysore had been one of the key manufacturing locations for Freudenberg, a family-owned, German company. The existing, well developed infrastructure, mild climate, qualified partners, and skilled workforce make Mysore a logical choice for future expansion.
"We awarded the construction to Indian companies that bring expertise and vast experience to this project," Dr. Großmann points out. "This additionally benefits the economy of the region."
Since the start of this major project in 2011, first buildings have been erected. By 2016, when the project is scheduled for completion, this state-of-the-art facility will provide 17,000 m2 of covered space. Total area is around 40,000m2. An additional plot of land covering more than 8,000 m2 has been acquired.
Mysore is assuming an important role in Freudenberg's innovation strategy. The product development laboratories in Mysore will become a regional competence center for specialty lubricants, release agents and maintenance products. The center will serve Freudenberg's customers in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim as well as some global needs.
The Mysore Plant currently employs some 110 employees. It is expected that more than 100 jobs will be created in coming years. Positions in production, quality management, logistics, and product development will be filled by chemical and mechanical engineers, managers and other skilled professionals. In attracting new talent, the high quality of life in Mysore with good education facilities will play an important role. "In order to follow our future plans in Mysore we need some of the most talented people in the country," Dr. Großmann says. "These talents will increase our innovative product portfolio in the region and help us meet the growing customer demands in the fast-growing Indian market."
Activities in India
The Indian market is one of the most important growth regions for the Freudenberg Group, developer and manufacturer of advanced technology products. For more than 90 years, Freudenberg has had a successful presence in India, and the Freudenberg Company Klüber Lubrication has operated a plant in Mysore since 1989.
In recent years, Freudenberg has consistently invested in India. For example, a Joint Venture company, Freudenberg Gala Household Products, opened a plant for production of mechanical household cleaning products in Adas, near Anand, Gujarat investing around Rs.20 cores. Freudenberg Filtration Technologies India in Pune acquired the specialty filter manufacturer Pyramid Filters in April 2012.
By the end of this month, another important project will be completed in Pune - EagleBurgmann, leading manufacturer of sealing technology, will open its new research and development laboratory. It is a state-of-the-art facility for fully automated and computer controlled testing of the latest sealing systems for refineries, petrochemical and chemical industry and power generation plants. The investment amounts close to Rs.10 crores.
"The Freudenberg Group will continue to grow its activities in India both through internal growth and through strategic acquisitions," emphasizes Dr. Jörg Matthias Großmann. Currently, Freudenberg employs more than 3,000 associates in 28 production and sales locations in India.
Notes to Editor
About Freudenberg in India
Freudenberg has held business ties with customers and partners in India for almost 100 years. The Group has a workforce of more than 3,000 employees at 28 locations. Freudenberg generated sales in India of 956 Rs. crores in the 2011 financial year.
About the Freudenberg Group
The Freudenberg Group is a family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services. The Group develops and manufactures seals, vibration control components, filters, nonwovens, products for surface treatment, release agents and specialty lubricants, medical and mechatronic products. And especially for mid-size companies Freudenberg develops software solutions and IT services. The end-user can find modern Freudenberg household products in the shops under the brand names of vileda®, O-Cedar®,
Wettex®, Gala® and SWASH®. The Freudenberg Group employed over 37,000 people in 58 countries and generated sales of 39,396 Rs. crores in 2011. For further information, please go to www.freudenberg.in